Community College News
Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids)
The Kirkwood Community College Library is being remodeled. Part of the collection was weeded and part of the collection was put into storage because the entire library had to go from being on two floors to one floor. With the arrangement we have on the second floor things are running smoothly. However, every so often, we jump as we hear a jack hammer working below us. When the first floor is finished in December, the library will occupy the first floor while the second floor is being remodeled. By June 2007, the remodeling is to be complete. Submitted by Genny Yarne.
Iowa Private Academic News
Cornell College
Dr. Amanda Swygart Hobaugh, Consulting Librarian For the Social Sciences, will be leaving Cornell for the University of Kansas to become Social Sciences Librarian there. A search for her replacement is currently underway.
Elizabeth Schau, Consulting Librarian for the Humanities and Performing Arts, will be leaving Cornell to complete her M.A.T. degree at the University of Iowa. an interim appointment has been made: Jennifer Rouse.
Dr. Amanda Swygart Hobaugh, Consulting Librarian for the Social Sciences, and Jessica Johanningmeier, Quantitative Reasoning Consultant, presented "Introducing the New Generation of Students to Academic Inquiry: Cross Campus Collaboration"June 19-21, 2006 at MACALESTER COLLEGE, St. Paul, MN. The title of their presentation was "“Cultivating Future Scholars: A Cross-Campus Collaboration on an Original Research Project." The presentation described an original research project assignment involving collaboration between a sociology professor, social sciences librarian, quantitative reasoning consultant, and a writing consultant. This represents an example of the type of collaboration Cornell is trying to achieve in its expanded information literacy instruction program. Submitted by Jean Donham.
Grinnell College
The Grinnell College Libraries acquired the entire Dalkey Archive catalog through a program created and sponsored by the Center for Book Culture http://www.centerforbookculture.org/. In 2002, the Center for Book Culture started the Library Alliance Program to work with libraries to serve readers. Working with the Lila Wallace Foundation, the Center was able to offer the entire Dalkey Archive catalog, over 270 titles, at a 75% discount. They write: "Through this program we hope to show that, given appropriate foundation or donor support, libraries and nonprofit presses can work together to preserve the great literary works of the twentieth century for future generations. Grinnell already had about 70 Dalkey Archive press titles and we were excited to obtain the rest of the catalog through this program. Dalkey Archive publishes literature in translation from countries including Latin America, Eastern Europe, France, Greece, and Switzerland, as well as the works of important English language writers such as Gertrude Stein, Djuna Barnes, Louis Zukovsky, Gilbert Sorrentino , Ishmael Reed, Carole Maso, Robert Creeley and Stanely Elkin. Submitted by Rebecca Stuhr.
Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium's (ICPC) latest S.O.S. Conference
ICPC has just finished presenting their Preservation 102 series of ICN and hands-on workshops. This program was supported by a grant of over $4,000 from the State of Iowa's Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP). The final hands-on workshop was presented in four locations over two weekends.
The hosting institutions were Simpson College, Buena Vista University, Iowa Wesleyan College and Wartburg College. A number of our ILA/ACRL members participated in the planning and presentation of the workshops. Donna Hoeksema, a cataloging assistant at Grinnell College who also works with processing, repair, and preservation contributed this report from her experience at one of the S.O.S workshops:
Change is a constant, whether it comes from aging or from new technologies to be learned. At the SOS Workshop 2006 I had the opportunity to gain some insight in handling these changes from other caretakers of history and the current era. These workshops were repeated all over the state allowing around 90 people to learn from experts in areas that affect both libraries and museums. We dealt with creating a quality template for a digital record, several matting techniques that could allow for safe display or handling by groups, and one preservation technique for bound volumes known as rebacking. Issues in the cataloging session such as establishing legal ownership are critical with consequences shared of failing to do so.
Likewise, the dispersal of extra copies is a delicate question that all libraries and museums must face. A very interesting presentation on the mummification of a chair rail opened up our eyes to problems that few knew existed and demonstrated that there is a solution, but not a quick fix. I encourage others to come next year whether it is the first time or a repeated performance. The planning committee is eager to hear what issues would be most helpful to you and your institution. These suggestions of topics for future classes are frequently used and very appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Hoeksema
Grinnell College, Library Assistant
Morningside College
The Morningside College Library is in phase 2 of remodeling. Now officially known as the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center, the facility continues to house the library collection, but is also now home of the Academic Support Center and the Mass Communication department. Additionally last year the Spoonholder Cafe, a coffeeshop offering desserts, snacks and cold and hot drinks is located on the first floor and maintains the same hours as the library. Over the past two years, over 25,000 books and resources have been removed from the library's collection freeing up floor space for more group study areas. New soft-seating and carpeting has been added. This summer the second and third floors and ceiling in the main stacks area are being repainted. Some upgrades on lighting and adding 2nd floor restrooms (and lockers for commuters) complete phase 2 of the remodeling project. Submitted by Daria Bossman, Director of Library Services.
Mt. Mercy College
Kristy Raine, Reference Librarian and Archivist (PT), presented a program at the Grant Wood Festival in Anamosa in June based on the electronic work "When Tillage Begins... The Stone City Art Colony and School". The intersection of the history of Stone City and of the Colony was portrayed in a multimedia presentation. The web site for our project is http:/www.mtmercy.edu/stone/schome.htm.
Busse Library is actively involved in the Mount Mercy College portal/learning management system and the college intranet. Both services are being upgraded this summer and preparations are being made to assist faculty, staff and students in learning and using their new features. Library Director Marilyn Murphy is managing the upgrades.
Busse Librarians will also be assisting the college Department of Education in implementing Livetext - an online portfolio and assessment program.
Linda Scarth, Reference Librarian, participated in the annual MMC Faculty Development four day workshop at the end of May. This year the attendees studied and participated in 'Place As Text', an approach to active learning that can be applied in course assignments and in studying and assessing offices and activities on a college campus. The Mount Mercy College campus was the place and the text, with activities throughout the campus. Some of the group spent a night in a dormitory where we discussed student experience on a campus. The pedagogical model can be used effectively in designing information literacy activities.
Connie Walther, Serials & Media Librarian, is the current Treasurer of the Iowa Association for Communication Technology. She is also Representative to the ICN Regional Telecommunications Council for the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Submitted by Linda Scarth.
University of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque Charles C. Meyers Library is working with a Public Relations class in the Master of Arts in Communication program to develop a PR plan for incoming first year students. Submitted by Mary Anne Knefel.
Iowa Public Academic News
Iowa State University
Service awards were presented to the following faculty in April:
5 years: Daniel Coffey, Reference & Instruction & Michele Christian, Archives
15 years: David Gregory, Associate Dean, Research and Access 20 years: Jeanne Boydston, Collections & Technical Services & Nancy Pelzer, Collections & Technical Services
25 years: Janet Arcand, Collections & Technical Services 30 years: Olivia Madison, Dean of the Library
Michele Christian and Daniel Coffey were both promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor with Tenure. Congratulations Michele and Dan!
University of Iowa
UI Libraries To Help Preserve Historic Documents In Biloxi, Miss.
The preservation department of the University of Iowa Libraries will preserve historical documents damaged by Hurricane Katrina, starting with documents and manuscripts from the Jefferson Davis Library in Biloxi, Miss., and the Biloxi Public Library. The idea for Project CALM (Conservation Attention for Libraries of Mississippi) came from Gary Frost, a conservator in the library's preservation department who visited the Gulf Coast region in September as part of a team assessing post-hurricane damage. Frost said libraries and archives of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi were extensively damaged by the strong right side of hurricane Katrina. A tsunami-like storm surge drove inland up to six miles destroying coastal communities. Cultural collections of family history and municipal records were particularly devastated.
Frost has remained in touch with several contacts in Mississippi. Frost said more assessment will be performed in June, when the American Library Association holds its annual conference in New Orleans. Frost and Nancy E. Kraft, head of the UI Libraries' preservation department, will travel to Biloxi following the conference and arrange for additional preservation projects that the UI Libraries can perform for the Davis library and the Biloxi library. Frost said the work is badly needed because the Gulf Coast region is still devastated and little of the massive restoration and reconstruction has even begun.
Full news release here: http://www.uiowa.edu/~ournews/2006/march/030106preservation.html
IMLS Grant Award
The new IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Studies) grants have been announced and Padmini Srinivasan, Professor in the School of Library and Information Science, was awarded a grant of $918,589 to establish a program to recruit and train two cohorts (of 10 individuals each) with a special emphasis on digital librarianship.
The grant is in partnership with the University Libraries (Digital Library Services, Information Commons Production Services, and Preservation Department), ITS Academic Technologies, the WiderNet Project, and the International Writing Program. Library school students will follow a “clinical rotation” model, each working with 2 or 3 partners over the course of their schooling, so we’ll directly benefit by having a number of library school students working on a variety of initiatives in DLS, ICPS, and Preservation.
Awards
Gary Frost has received the 2006 ALA Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris Preservation Award in recognition of his contribution to the field of preservation and conservation for library and archival materials. This prestigious award was established to honor the memory of Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris, early leaders in library preservation. Gary will receive a citation during the ALA conference in New Orleans and a $1,500 grant donated by Preservation Technologies, L.P.
Kathy Magarrell has been chosen for the Arthur Benton Excellence in Reference Services Award this year. Kathy was nominated by 6 faculty members from the English Department and American Studies and their recommendation is glowingly positive about the services Kathy has provided to them and their students. With this award comes an additional $1,000 of professional development funds. The award is given every other year and is funded by an endowment created by our good friend, Dr. Arthur Benton. Past recipients are Dave Martin, Karen Mason, and John Schacht.
Naomi Peuse, State Coordinator for National History Day in Iowa, recently notified Karen Mason that the Iowa Women’s Archives has been chosen to receive their first place recognition for their 2006 “Kids Count!” Award for Excellence in Service to Youth Researchers. They present one certificate of achievement and two certificates of merit to university libraries, specialized libraries, archives, or museums that go “above and beyond in making young people in grades 6-12 feel welcome as researchers.” IWA was selected as the top contributor from 25 nominations. The University Libraries has participated in National History Day for several years. Congratulations to Karen Mason, Janet Weaver, and everyone in IWA.
Chris Shaffer has been approved for membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) at the Distinguished Member level. AHIP is MLA’s peer-reviewed professional development and career recognition credentialing program. This credential denotes the highest standards of professional competency and achievement in the field of health care information and must be renewed every five years.
President’s Award for State Outreach and Public Engagement: Nancy Kraft is being recognized not only for her general contributions to the preservation and accessibility of historical sources in Iowa, but also for two particular initiatives: the Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium (ICPC) and the Iowa Heritage Digital Collections. Ms. Kraft has played an important leadership role in the ICPC in developing and delivering a training program for Iowans (delivered in part through the ICN), especially those who work in small repositories around the state, on ways to take care of historical collections of all kinds. Many attendees work in isolated settings with little or no access to additional expertise and advice. Ms. Kraft has also led the creation of the Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, a statewide project designed to make the wide range of collections pertaining to Iowa that are housed in different types of libraries, museums, and historical societies throughout the state widely available through an online database (http://iowaheritage.lib.uiowa.edu/). Ms. Kraft has helped ensure that Iowa’s cultural assets and cultural memory last well into the future and remain widely accessible.
Staff Update
Appointments:
Rebecca Routh, Librarian I, Cataloging Librarian, Complex Cataloging, CTS, effective June 12, 2006
Gregory (Greg) Prickman, Librarian II, Special Collections Librarian, Special Collections & University Archives, effective June 28, 2006
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